This is the twelfth report in the annual series prepared by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's National Perinatal Statistics Unit (NPSU), providing national information on the pregnancy and childbirth of mothers and their babies. Two special features are included in this year's report: a chapter on homebirths and birth centre births, and a chapter on births from assisted reproductive technology (ART). The report also provides data on the number of mothers with a history of previous caesarean section and their current method of birth, and the type of anaesthetic administered for operative deliveries.