Under the pump: Bobby Macumber navigates motherhood and Breakfast radio

Bobby Macumber. Image supplied

Bobby Macumber thought she knew what ‘tired’ felt like before she became a mum. Turns out, she had no idea.

Bobby’s refreshingly honest take on the rewarding yet exhausting reality of working Breakfast radio hours as a new mother will no doubt resonate with those in our industry who’ve navigated a similar path.

As a radio broadcaster, stand-up comedian, sports commentator and MC, Bobby’s professional dance card was already bursting at the seams when she and wife Abbie welcomed baby Maggie earlier this year.

Eight months after giving birth, as well as resuming her freelance gigs, Bobby recently returned to work at ABC Radio Adelaide as the roving reporter for Breakfast with Sonya & Jules as well as Mornings with Rory McClaren.

She started out doing two days a week, then gradually increased it to three.

And as Bobby shares with Radio Today, from the moment she told her employer she was pregnant to the day she resumed work part-time, the ABC had her back.

“I feel very lucky to have such a supportive workplace – I know that’s not always the case, especially in this industry!”

“The entire time, they have allowed me to lead them in what works best for me.”

Bobby was initially nervous about letting her bosses know she was pregnant.

“Not because I thought they’d respond negatively, just because I love my job so much, I didn’t want to jeopardise it.”

For Bobby and Abbie, the road to motherhood followed a rollercoaster IVF journey. It was only after two and a half years of trying for a child – including a miscarriage – that baby Maggie arrived.

“I was actually halfway through a run of my new solo comedy show that I was performing at Adelaide Fringe when I found out that I’d miscarried during a scan in the afternoon,” Bobby says.

She pushed on with both her day job and her freelance work, keeping the miscarriage a secret from most of her colleagues.

After two egg retrievals and three transfers, Bobby fell pregnant with the last remaining embryo. She and Abbie were over the moon.

Radio life has since taken on some readjustments. A typical working day sees Bobby set her alarm for 3.30, giving her time to feed, change and settle Maggie before getting ready for work.

And with Bobby out on the road all morning, it’s a case of have breast pump, will travel.

“I have to make time to pump in between live crosses,” she says. “Work have been great in giving me the time that I need to do this,” she says.

“I’m somehow managing so far.”

There’s also a private room at work where Bobby can pump and store her milk when she returns to the office.

“I used to work full time and freelance in the evenings and/or weekends. Lots of work, but I would nap between shifts whenever I had time.”

“I stupidly thought I could continue freelancing as I was only working 2 to 3 days a week in radio, but it all honesty, it’s been a lot harder than I thought.”

“Thankfully I have an extremely supportive wife who is able to look after our daughter when I am working at night or on the weekend, plus incredible family who are able to look after our daughter whilst my wife (who works four days a week) and I are working.”

On top of everything else, Bobby has been gigging at comedy clubs during the week, writing fresh material about being a new mum.

Looking back at her recent schedule, Bobby says it’s only now that she realises how much she’s been committing herself to.

Take the Friday before last, which saw Bobby get up at up at 3.30am, feed, change and settle Maggie, work her ABC shift, return home for a mums and bubs catch up, walk the dog, grab a 20 minute power nap while Maggie slept in her cot, then head to her evening job as Port Adelaide’s on-field AFLW host.

At 8.30 that night, she was pumping again before hosting the post-match function. By 10.30 she was home, feeding and settling Maggie before collapsing in a heap at 11pm.

As far as Bobby’s concerned, all working mums are incredible and deserving of a shoutout.

Her advice to those with young children who are thinking of returning to work? That’s easy.

“Maybe don’t freelance on nights and weekends on top of your day job!” she laughs.

Images: ABC, LinkedIn and ABC Radio Adelaide Facebook page