Everyday, women deliver baby boys and girls in hospitals all over the world. Usually, the only people who want to know the exact details of the births are family members, and the only cameras present are in the hands of proud fathers.

However, in the case of Bobbi McCaughey, who is at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines awaiting the births of her septuplets, the whole world wants the story.

The McCaugheys certainly are newsworthy. It isn’t often that seven babies are conceived, much less delivered. And, this is happening in Iowa. Hey, national attention for our state is always good.

But, the McCaugheys have been besieged by pestering people.

The babies could come at any moment, so armies of television and newspaper crews are lined up outside the hospital. The hospital has received up to 20 calls an hour, some looking for inside news and interviews.

Journalists from Chicago to Germany want to know the details of the birth. The National Inquirer and The Maury Povich Show want to run “exclusive” stories.

With all this attention, it’s no wonder the McCaugheys kept quiet for so long.

During the nearly six months of pregnancy, the McCaugheys avoided publicity about the babies. In fact, the story wasn’t leaked until Bobbi came to Des Moines Methodist.

Hospital officials said the babies appear to be in good health and they have a good chance for survival. Maybe the babies are in such good health because Bobbi had a media-free, and therefore stress-free, pregnancy.

The story of a septuplet delivery is important, not only to Iowans, but to the entire world. However, let’s allow the McCaugheys some privacy until after the babies are born.