Preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes (PPROM) is defined as prelabour 
rupture of the membranes prior to 37 weeks of gestation. It occurs in 
approximately 3% of pregnancies and is responsible for one-third of all preterm 
births. Effective treatment relies on accurate diagnosis, and it is gestational 
age dependent because the potential complications change with gestational age. 
Diagnosis itself is made by clinical suspicion, patient history and simple 
testing. Studies have shown that if a combination of patient history, nitrazine 
testing and ferning was used, the accuracy of at least two positive tests was 
93.1%. PPROM is associated with significant maternal and neonatal morbidity and 
mortality from infection, umbilical cord compression, placental abruption and 
preterm birth. Subclinical uterine infection has been implicated as a major 
aetiological factor in the pathogenesis and subsequent morbidity associated with 
PPROM and antenatal antibiotics, together with corticosteroid therapies, have 
clear benefits and should be offered to all women without contraindications. 
Women with PPROM after 32 weeks should be considered for delivery, and after 34 
weeks of gestation the benefits of elective delivery appear to outweigh the 
risks. Here, two cases are discussed that were experienced in our unit.