It is very important for her to be evaluated and treated properly for her problem. However, shortness of breath may just be a normal side effect of a late term pregnancy, and may not require treatment at all. This should be evaluated by her doctor. In addition, even if she has a respiratory infection, most such infections are viral infections and do not require antibiotics,. However, if indeed her doctor decides that it is a bacterial infection causing a bronchitis or a pneumonia, then it is extremely important that it be treated properly with antibiotics. Having such an infection can be very dangerous if it is not treated properly, and can even become life threatening. So if her doctor decides that she has such an infection, then he/she will prescribe an antibiotic that is safe in pregnancy, and there are many antibiotics that are safe to use in pregnancy when they are necessary. She should never take antibiotics without discussing it with her doctor first, as some antibiotics are dangerous in pregnancy, and it may not even be the correct one for her problem. The bottom line is that she should be evaluated by her physician, and take antibiotics only if it is necessary. I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any more questions.