Answer to Question 2:

In brief, yes you are.  Pregnant employees and nursing mothers are entitled to paid time off from their employment to attend antenatal and post natal appointments.  You are also entitled to take paid time off for medical visits related to the pregnancy for 14 weeks after the birth.

As a pregnant employee, you should make these arrangements with your employers now and they are obliged to respond reasonably to these requests.  These employment rights are protected through the Maternity Protection Act, 1994, the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act, 2004 (PDF), the Maternity Protection (Time off for ante-natal care and post-natal care) Regulations, 1995, and the Maternity Protection (Disputes and Appeals) Regulations, 1995.