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.

‘Clemmie’ Image by Jenny Lewis.

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.

‘Laure’ Image by Jenny Lewis.

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.

Xanthe and Louie

Images by Jenny Lewis

Shenelle and Arissa.

Images by Jenny Lewis

Rebecca and Osiris

Images by Jenny Lewis

Hazel and Rudy.

Images by Jenny Lewis

Jenny and Nora

Images by Jenny Lewis

Liana and Archer.

Images by Jenny Lewis

Theresa and Tommy.

Images by Jenny Lewis

Cover page.

Images by Jenny Lewis

Karla and River.

Images by Jenny Lewis