Hey, Linda, we agree after all...except for one teensy weensy little itsy
bitsy thing:

'If the baby is taking that long, he/she obviously NEEDS to do so in
order to get enough milk. '

There is also another possibility - he just likes being at the breast, and
his mother doesn't mind letting him stay there!  When bf is going well,
with no fussiness, soreness or any growth, health or crying problems with
the baby, I would not expect all 45 mins to be taken up with equally active
sucking. Some of the time, indeed, the baby may be asleep.

I also agree with you that the whole of at least one feed *has* to be
observed if there is a suspected problem  - there is no short cut to this
one.

Heather welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK