An intimate look at mothers holding babies on their first day together.

What does it look like to become a mother?

For the last five years, Jenny Lewis has been photographing mums and their newborn babies within 24 hours of their birth.

The project took place in Hackney, London, and was created with the intention of showing women that childbirth is a positive experience and nothing to be feared.

Jenny says the images express the primitive and hormonal moment of love and protection.

“My aim was to capture the extraordinary bonding, warmth and strength between mother and infant. In fact the whole range of amazing emotions felt at that time, as the mothering instinct kicks in,” Jenny said.

Jenny’s project has been compiled into a book called One Day Young where she shares 40 of her best images.

“I find the collection of images defiant and beautiful, challenging the expected vision of those first twenty-four hours, a pure celebration of what it means to be a mother,” Jenny says.

One Day Young In Hackney by Jenny Lewis is published by Hoxton Mini Press, £12.95 available from www.hoxtonminipress.com

Take a look below at some of the images contained in the book…

Mothers holding their babies.