I suspect this will be long so apologies in advance!
I am currently 33 weeks with DD2. About 15 years ago I had a breast reduction (age 20) and hence when pregnant with DD1 I knew there was a good chance i might have reduced milk supply, but I was determined to breast feed and just hoped that I might be one of the lucky ones who could still EBF or close to it. I found an old but highly recommended book on the subject of breast feeding after a reduction and read it avidly before DD1 was born.
When DD1 arrived I EBF for the first 11 days but she dropped in weight (to just below 10% less than her birth weight), which I know is not the only sign but in my case when I knew it was likely I did not have a full supply, it seemed pretty important. Plus, more crucially, whilst she had wet nappies, DD1 didn't have any dirty nappies after her initial meconium one at the hopsital. I found breast feeding really painful, despite having my latch checked by various HVs and midwives. My nipples had cracks and bled, no matter how much I air dried them / used lansinoh / re-latched DD1. I tried expressing but felt pretty dejected after getting out about 20mls in (a very hard to find) two hours! I got even less then next few times I tried, despite having rented a very beasty expressing machine from Sure Start. I know babies are best at getting milk out as opposed to machines, but it just seemed to reinforce the message that I just didn't have much milk.
I was in a pretty teary emotional state and we ended up deciding (with midwives / HVs' input) that I would supplement BF with formula. She guzzled away happily at the formula and had a dirty nappy within the day - to all round relief! I kept up the breast feeding until she was 4 months but by the end it was just twice a day, morning and night. Obviously using formula diminished my already reduced supply, which I knew would happen but didn't know what else to do.
I guess if I had had the above problems without a breast reduction I would have perserved EBF a bit longer, but just felt too worried and emotional that DD1 wasn't getting enough.
I was upset that I couldn't breast feed as I'd wanted to (and of course a bit of guilt beacuse it all stemmed from something I had decided to do, IYKWIM). I'd put all of this out of my mind (and DD1 is now a very healthy and happy 2 year old) but coming to the business end of this current pregnancy has made me start to think about it all again. I would really like to have a better and more successful go at breast feeding with DD2 if possible and hope that my supply will have increased at least a little from the reconnections to my milk ducts that will have happened during and post BF DD1 - although DH (an amazing and hugely supportive man) really doesn't want me to get my hopes up as doesn't want me to be upset as I was last time. Keeping myself realistic is not one of my strong suits...
So I think my question is, does anyone else have experience of BF subsequent children after a breast reduction? Any tips to pass on? DId you find it better than the first time? Also, are there any more up to date ways that I can use to tell how much breast milk DD2 is taking and if I do need to supplement with formula, what amounts should I start with?
Thanks very much to anyone who had the time to read the above tome and respond!