I am expecting my first GRANDBABY in a few days. For all of you that don't really understand your body PLEASE keep options to yourself. When you pump your breast you are not taking anything away from your baby. The clostrum that your baby needs DOES NOT COME IN UNTIL THE BABY IS BORN. ASK YOUR DOCTOR PLEASE. It does not hurt anything to pump your breast before your baby is born. I myself have 2 grown children which I let come when they were ready. But I didn't even go to my due date for either child. So I know when your past your due date it is miserable. My daughter who lives with me is 40 weeks and miserable. She has tried everything NOTHING HAS WORKED. I just believe it works for some women and some it don't. Just don't do anything that could possible harm you or your baby.
Actually many women produce colostrum prior to labor, especially if you've had children already. I'm 35 weeks and have had colostrum leaking since 2nd trimester, I'm also a LC. You do not run out of colostrum if you express in pregnancy, your body continues to produce it until your body signals to start making mature milk, and that won't happen until after the birth of your baby, and then it takes a few days to a week to produce milk after colostrum. Many women who know they will have babies early are also advised to pump/hand express colostrum into vials prior to birth to give the baby that if they cannot nurse right away. Normally that is started between 36-38 weeks, depending on when the Doctor wants to induce you.
Pumping in pregnancy can harm you. It is ignorant and false to say it doesn't. Pumping incorrectly or for a extended amount (longer than 30-45 minutes) can damage your milk ducts and make nursing difficut. It can also make you super sore, cracked or bleeding nipples, etc. Like with everything it comes with risks. It is also not proven to induce labor. Pumping is not the same thing as nipple stimulation with your hands, that is suppose to help bring on labor IF you are already ready and your body is already basically in eary labor. It works by producing oxytocin, the pump produces much much lower levels of oxytocin. It is also not proven to be that effective.
40 weeks is not past your due date. In fact, full term is considered 38 weeks TO 42 weeks. So you're not over due until 42+1. Miserable is just part of pregnancy, I've been miserable for a very long time now, mostly due to this being my third baby and having 2 energetic boys to parent and pregnancy can be hard on the body and emotions.
There is also no proof that any so called natural inductions work. Lots of theroies, but no proof. As a birth professional I personally, through experience and education, do not believe they work. I think they can help once already in early labor, but they do not induce you.