Hi,

There are times in your baby's first weeks when you seriously wonder if you will ever get off the couch. But it sounds like your baby is pretty normal.

Most babies feed 8-12 times in 24hours. Most mums to be, when they hear that news at antenatal of breastfeeding class totally discount the "12" times and then imagine the "8" times will be broken into 3 hour blocks - it's just how our adult brains work. Babies see it differently. In a 24 hour period they will have one long (ish) sleep - 3 hours is as good as it gets. And then another time (or 2) of the day or night when they want a cluster of feeds.
16 days ago all your little one knew of life was being held by you constantly (in utero) hearing your voice and your heartbeat, and fed continually. He expects the same conditions on the outside. And when he is in your arms, at your breast, that is the closest he can get to "home" It will change over time.
Many mums find it can help to give him one breast for 20 mins or so, then give a burp, nappy change - generally try to wake him up - then offer the other side. You will notice that by 20 mins your baby will be snoozing at the breast - maybe a few fluttery sucks now and then. But when you go to take him off he will make a desperate grab for it as though to say "no, mum, I'm still drinking..." but just gently take him off.
A baby sling - a soft pouch like ABA's simplicity sling, or a ring sling is a lifesaver. No-one should leave hospital without one. It allows them to be close to you - and you to get a few things done.
If you are confident all is going well, a dummy may be helpful. Sucking performs many functions for a baby - food, comfort, an aid to digesting his food and getting to sleep. A dummy when you know he's had a good feed to help him get to sleep could be helpful (don't use it to "hold off" feeds)
With time things will get quicker and easier