It is natural to feel anxious when you are told your pregnancy is "high-risk", but with the right specialist, close monitoring becomes a source of reassurance rather than worry. Dr Keith Duncan is a sub-specialist in Maternal and Fetal Medicine with over 30 years' experience caring for complex and high-risk pregnancies. He provides the expert oversight, careful monitoring and continuity of care to make your pregnancy experience less stressful, and thereby hopefully more enjoyable.
What makes a pregnancy high-risk?
A pregnancy may be considered high-risk for many reasons, including:
- A previous pregnancy complication, such as pre-eclampsia, growth problems or preterm birth
- An existing medical condition, such as a clotting disorder, high blood pressure or diabetes
- A twin or multiple pregnancy
- Maternal age, or a raised BMI
- Complications identified during this pregnancy
Being "high-risk" does not mean something will go wrong - it simply means the chances of you or Baby needing an intervention are slightly increased, and that your pregnancy would therefore benefit from closer, expert attention. Dr Duncan will explain what your particular circumstances mean for you, and design a plan of care that specifically manages the risk exposure.
Pre-eclampsia - monitoring and preventive care
Pre-eclampsia is a condition affecting some pregnancies, usually from the second half onwards. It shows up in antenatal checks as elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine on dipstick, which is why these checks are routinely performed at every visit. If left untreated it can progress to eclampsia, which is life-threatening.
Because it can develop without obvious symptoms, regular monitoring is key. Dr Duncan assesses your risk early, arranges appropriate blood pressure monitoring and testing, and where indicated, discusses preventive measures. Should signs of pre-eclampsia appear, he manages your care proactively and plans your delivery to keep you and your baby safe. Warning signs to report promptly include severe headache, visual disturbance, sudden swelling of the face or hands, and upper abdominal pain.
Gestational diabetes and other medical conditions in pregnancy
Dr Duncan supports women managing medical conditions during pregnancy, including gestational diabetes and pre-existing conditions that need coordinated care. His approach combines specialist obstetric expertise with clear guidance, helping you understand your condition and stay well throughout your pregnancy, with appropriate monitoring of your baby's growth and wellbeing.
Enhanced fetal monitoring and surveillance
As a Fetal Medicine Specialist, Dr Duncan offers a frequency of scanning, and scrutiny and surveillance beyond routine antenatal care. This includes detailed serial growth scans and Doppler assessments to check your baby's growth and blood flow, and more frequent reassurance scans where needed. Close surveillance allows any concern to be picked up early and acted upon, which is at the heart of safe high-risk care.
Personalised care planning and 24hr access
No two high-risk pregnancies are the same, so Dr Duncan builds a personalised plan tailored to your needs, with the frequency of appointments and scans adjusted as your pregnancy progresses. Patients under his care have 24hr access to Dr Duncan's personal mobile, meaning expert reassurance is always within reach if you have a new worrying symptom. If your pregnancy requires closer monitoring and additional antenatal visits, these are included in all packages at no additional charge. Dr Duncan personally sees you at every appointment and performs your scans himself, so nothing is missed and you always speak to the doctor who knows your pregnancy best.
Planning a safe delivery
When a pregnancy is high-risk, delivery planning matters. Dr Duncan discusses the safest timing and mode of birth for your circumstances, supporting your choices wherever it is safe to do so. He delivers at The Portland Hospital, which offers comprehensive and state-of-the-art private maternity facilities including neonatal support on site if required.
For more information about your delivery, read Dr Duncan's guide: "Your Delivery at The Portland Hospital, London"
Arrange a consultation
Every high-risk pregnancy is different and Dr Duncan would be delighted to look after you. We offer an initial complimentary "Meet & Greet" appointment for you to talk through your pregnancy and get a sense of an appropriate management plan under Dr Duncan. Please get in touch with his secretary, Colette, or book online.
High-Risk Pregnancy Care FAQs
Written and medically reviewed by Dr Keith Duncan MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. Last reviewed .
A pregnancy may be considered high-risk for several reasons, including a previous pregnancy complication (such as pre-eclampsia, growth problems or preterm birth), an existing medical condition (such as a clotting disorder, high blood pressure or diabetes), a twin or multiple pregnancy, maternal age or a raised BMI, or complications identified during the current pregnancy. Being high-risk does not mean something will go wrong - it simply means the chances of you or Baby needing an intervention are slightly increased, and that your pregnancy would benefit from closer, expert attention.
Pre-eclampsia usually shows up from the second half of pregnancy onwards as elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine on dipstick, which is why these checks are performed at every visit. As it can develop without obvious symptoms, regular monitoring is key. Dr Duncan assesses your risk early, arranges blood pressure monitoring and testing, and discusses preventive measures where indicated. Warning signs to report promptly include severe headache, visual disturbance, sudden swelling of the face or hands, and upper abdominal pain.
As a Fetal Medicine Specialist, Dr Duncan offers monitoring and surveillance beyond routine antenatal care. This includes detailed serial growth scans and Doppler assessments to check your baby's growth and blood flow, along with more frequent reassurance scans where needed. This close surveillance allows any concern to be picked up early and acted upon.
When a pregnancy is high-risk, delivery planning matters. Dr Duncan discusses the safest timing and mode of birth for your specific circumstances, supporting your choices wherever it is safe to do so. He delivers at The Portland Hospital, which offers comprehensive and state-of-the-art private maternity facilities, including neonatal support on site should your baby need it.
No two high-risk pregnancies are the same, so Dr Duncan builds a personalised plan tailored to your needs, with the frequency of appointments and scans adjusted as your pregnancy progresses. If your pregnancy requires closer monitoring and additional antenatal visits, these are included in all packages at no additional charge. You also have 24-hour access to Dr Duncan's personal mobile, so expert reassurance is always within reach if a new worrying symptom arises, and he personally sees you at every appointment and performs your scans himself.
About Dr Duncan Birth
Dr Keith Duncan MD FRCOG is a leading consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist based in London. With over 30 years experience, Dr Duncan has delivered more than 4,000 babies both in the NHS and as a private obstetrician. His areas of expertise include childbirth, caesarean, antenatal care, multiple pregnancies, ultrasound and high-risk pregnancies.
Contact
Our secretary is Colette.
She can be contacted by email at [email protected] or by telephone via 0207 3495 204
Locations
Clinics
The Portland Hospital Consulting Suite
3rd Floor, 212 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5QN
Ovara Health
274 Fulham Road, Chelsea Walk, London, SW10 9EW
132 Harley Street
London, W1G 7JX
Hospital
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5AH
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