Hi Tasha

No...you don't need to take the placebo pills...I never did.  They are just there to remind you and to get into the routine of taking a pill every day. 

Here is an explanation of why you won't get pregnant during that week:

"The reason why you don't have any extra risks during that placebo week is because of all of the things the pill has done in the three weeks prior, and which it will do once you start taking it again. During that week, you don't need pills because they've already prevented ovulation and fertilization, so you couldn't become pregnant during that period of time, as without all those preceding signals to be fertile, you can't suddenly become fertile in that week.

Sometimes this is all more simply explained by saying that the pill tricks your body into thinking it is already pregnant each cycle, which is an accurate way to put it, since similar things do occur when a woman is pregnant, and since you can't become pregnant again once you already are."

I sure hope this helps some.  Please don't worry.  And if you have more concerns why not give your doctor a call.  Okay?