Is this normal ( experience with first child at dr office)

my baby was born in June and with each doctors appointment they only checked for HR and measured my belly and that was it. I literally looked 2 months at 7 months. Even my co workers told me I didn’t look pregnant at all but they kept telling me it’s normal for first timers. They never even checked percentile of the baby or the position of the baby. It was only until my very last appointment, I was told by my midwife that I needed to be induced because I was looking too small at 38 weeks ??????uhm wtf? Despite my regular check ups every month. My baby was born 4 pounds 8 oz and healthy but i had to have an emergency c section because my baby’s heart rate kept going down during labor and she would not come out...i want to know if this is a normal experience...