Yes you should be proctected provided that you are taking the pills at regular times everyday, but it is still a good idea to use a condom as well.
I have always been told that you should use protection when using your first pack of birth control pills. The pills must get in your system before they offer protection against pregnancy.
5 times
Depending what pill you are taking and if it is missed early or late in the cycle, yes 2 pills missed together - or in one cycle could lead to pregnancy and you should use a back up method like condoms until you have taken The Pill, 7 times in 7 days.
Are you talking about pills here? If you are, pills (used correctly) will prevent pregnancy 99 times out of a hundred. Condoms will prevent pregnancy about 93 times out of a hundred. BUT, condoms also help prevent infection.
Ensure pregnancy? What we need to do is to ensure NO pregnancy! 10 seconds of "the male on top of the female" position is enough for 5 babies to be born.
As long as you are not taking the birth control pills different times each day consistently, you should still be protected. The good thing is that you did not forget to completely take the pill. You were only an hour late, you are fine. However, to be sure that pregnancy does not occur, continue to take your birth control pills at the same time that you were originally taking the pills, every day at the same time.
During pregnancy, you need the same vitamins (and minerals) as at other times: those found in multivitamin tablets. However, the amounts of some vitamins that you need change with pregnancy, so you should definitely consult your doctor.
If your girlfriend is late taking her birth control pills multiple days in a row there wouldn't be such a worry as her getting pregnant but she may start spotting because of the inconsistencies with the times of her taking the pills. The pills should be in her system by then. Unless, it's her very first pack of pills and she's in that first seven days. If that's the case, you guys should use backup protection to be safe.
Skipping the placebo pills does not increase your risk of pregnancy.
You will need to ask your doctor or pharmacist for the the times you need to take your progesterone pills.
You should not get pregnant, when on oral contraceptive pills. But there is brake through ovulation is there, at times. May be that you have forgotten a pill on some or other day. You need to go for alternate method of contraception in that case. Your gynecologist may offer you twice daily dosage of the same pill to make it more effective. If you do not get the periods say within week of the last pill, you can suspect the pregnancy. Pregnancy can be easily terminated by oral tablets.