Breast feeding how to stop suckling

[Tan001]

Hi
i am currently breastfeeding. My baby is only 10 days old and since he’s been born, he takes a long time to feed - around 1 hour/1 hour 30 mins each time. The problem is he falls asleep on the breast and stops swallowing/ gulping and I can just hear him sucking instead. So when I do take him off the breast he suddenly wakes up and remembers he is still hungry wanting the breast again. He stays awake for around 5 mins on the breast where I can hear regular gulping and he is actively feeding, the rest of the time I can hear swallowing now and then as he dozes off which makes the feed take too long.
Any suggestions on how I can keep him actively feeding in order to shorten the feed period, ie keep him awake during the feed period so he is actually swallowing the whole time instead of just sucking?
many thanks

The sucking serves a couple purposes. It stimulates your milk supply so as the baby grows, you have the additional milk you need. It also provides comfort to the baby. So you do want to allow a bit of it. However there are things you can do to shorten the overall breast feeding time.

As he’s falling asleep mid-feed, you can gently stroke his face/back to keep him awake and actively nursing. When you know he is completely done and you’ve let him suckle a bit, the easiest way to pop them off your breast is to take your pinky finger, sort of hook it and gently ease it between their mouth and your nipple area to break the seal/suction. (Make sure you have very very short nails). They usually just fall off the breast then without waking up.

Is it like a flutter suck? I hated those. Wait until it's just a tremor type action then unlatch with your little finger and quickly but gently smoosh baby's cheek into the fleshy part of your boob and rock gently

Also well done on reaching 10 days! BF isn't easy!!!

I used to tickle their backs or feet to keep them awake.

Time will help this too. At 10 days old this is very normal and is part of establishing feeding.

Over the next few weeks this will settle down a bit and they will get more efficient at feeding.

You can have a look at feeding lying down or get yourself comfy on the sofa with a good box set. I watched the whole of Downton abbey with mine and game of thrones lol.

Dad can help by taking on all the household stuff and making sure you are fed and watered.

I wouldn't necessarily have the ambition to stop this as feeding for 60 /90 minutes is really normal and part of the process at this stage.. I do remember that feeling of being utterly trapped by a hot little being stuck to me so the above advice is worth a try..