Any suggestions on how to prevent holes while closing up after stuffing?

I'm currently working on this whale, but I'm struggling with the closing up. I've done it 3 times but each time the tension of the stuff inside makes it super difficult to not have holes appearing.

The end looks like: - 1 sc, dec, repeat ** around (20) ; stuff the doll - dec around (10) -dec around (5); F/O, close the hole and hide the yarn.

Do you have any suggestions?