Hunter parents ignored economic uncertainty and had 7600 babies in 2008, an 8.6 per cent increase on the number of babies born five years ago, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The jump is consistent with the national trend: 300,000 babies were born in 2008, up 4 per cent on the previous record year, 2007.

The spike took the Hunter's fertility rate the number of babies born per woman aged 15 to 49 to 1.88.

The Hunter's fertility was slightly up on the state average, but down on the 31-year national high of 1.97.

Muswellbrook had the most new mouths to feed per capita, with a 2.26 fertility rate.

Dungog followed with 2.17, while Cessnock leapt 0.2 in five years to 2.15.

Lake Macquarie recorded an average 1.85, while Newcastle's 1.69 revealed a gradual five-year increase.

Muswellbrook Mayor Martin Rush said he wasn't surprised the town was leading the region's birth rate.

"We have the lowest unemployment rate in the region and there are a lot of opportunities for young contractors and trade professionals up here," he said.

Muswellbrook has a higher proportion of people in the 26 to 49 bracket than elsewhere in the region.

"It's a pleasing trend, especially when birth rates have have been in decline throughout the Western world for so long. It's particularly pleasing that it's happening in our region," Cr Rush said.

Maternity advocate Justine Caines said Muswellbrook's high fertility was in spite of sparse medical facilities, and could be partly explained by mining offering consistent work for many locals.

"For some of the population there's good employment and good money, with no significant mining job losses recently," Ms Caines said.

"But I wouldn't be so sure all the ones having babies are the ones who can afford to."

Australian Bureau of Statistics spokesman Matthew Montgomery said he was not surprised that inner Newcastle registered 1.55.

"In those sorts of areas you get a concentration of young professionals, or people undertaking study and not looking to have children," he said.

Last year, a Productivity Commission report warned against giving the $5000 baby bonus too much credit for the rising birth rate.