Has mother been grasping breast and holding it, perhaps squeezing to form or make it somewhat more firm? Mothers do not often recognize that squeezing the breast can cause bruising. You mention that she "bruises easily." Watch when she puts baby to breast. If her fingers or thumb are pressing in the breast tissue (above and below nipple), that could bwe what has happened. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %% "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities %% %% brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." %% %% definition of a lactation consulting service. %% %% Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC - [log in to unmask] %% %% Homewood, Illinois USA %% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%