Even in high risk pregnancies, OB visits are minimal in the first trimester. Usually one to date the pregnancy and do the initial bloodwork and then maybe one more. SW returned in time for her second trimester, which is when the problems can really start happening for those of us with autoimmune disorders and, more significantly, when medical professionals can intervene. I don't see anything unusual at all with her going away and, like you said, we don't know that she didn't receive care in NC.
Source: Lupus person here with 3 high-risk pregnancies under my belt.