Please tell me this is ok! Accidently ate a rare burger :(

[LoveMy2Boys2]

I went out with my girlfriends for the first time since being pregnant.... We went to a restaurant bar and its very dark in there, I ordered my favorite Cajun burger, I thought it seemed extra juicy, I even used my flashlight on my phone to see if it was not cooked al the way but it was too dark to see..... I took half of it home , got home and it was literally all pink inside!
I'm freaking out is this bad? The burger is huge and I ate half of it.... Basically raw......

 

[SoBlessedMama]

I'm sure it is fine : ) especially if it is a reputable restaurant, and you've eaten there frequently. I've done so many things during both of my pregnancies, only to find out later that they were no-no's. (Eat lunchmeat, drink milkshakes, whiten teeth...) and my DS #1 is a happy, healthy 4 year old, and #2 is healthy and looking great--due in a month.

So, try to relax and not be too hard on yourself! It was a one-time accident. Unless you get sick in the next few hours, I would say the chances of something negative happening are next to nothing. I totally understand that we all overreact a little during pregnancy (I'm the queen of that!) because we want our babies to be healthy. Try to relax, mama! I'm sure LO is just fine. : )

 

[LoveMy2Boys2]

Thank you!!! Ugh I know I'm definitely on edge this pregnancy..... I was never like this with my other two.... I'm terrified something will go wrong this time.....my last has a lot of medical issues when born and I questioned what did I do while I was pregnant for years after, this time around I'm so on edge to do everything right so I'll never feel that guilt again..... Even small things like eating undercooked burgers give me heart attacks! I'm sure you are right.... I just need some extra reassurance these days !! The more I hear its gonna be ok the more I'll believe it!

 

[petitpas]

Totally understandable that you are worried but ultimately the risk is tiny. Also, you can't uneat the burger now so there's nothing to do except avoid doing the same again in future.

Soblessed, I'm guessing you are in the States due to the no lunchmeat rule but milkshakes? I'm curious. What could possibly be wrong with milkshakes? I've never heard of that one...

 

[Mummy to be x]

I was going to ask about the milkshakes.

Original poster, relax. If you start to feel unwell call your doctor but if your feeling fine I really wouldn't worry Hun x

 

[SoBlessedMama]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who had never heard of the milkshake thing! Yes, I'm in the US. And apparently soft serve ice cream carries the same listeria risk, because it as stored at lower temperatures. Crazy! Lol I know I drank my fair share of milkshakes with DS #1 (and he is just fine!) I think some of the rules are definitely overboard, but it is hard not to worry, because we want our babies to be healthy. (I've also eaten a couple of turkey sandwiches this time around when the craving got so bad I couldn't handle it lol.)

OP, I hope you're feeling better about things today!

 

[LoveMy2Boys2]

Thanks ladies!! Feeling pretty normal today minus this raging headache and allergies!! Hoping all is well.... Just need to feel baby today and let it go and I'll breathe lol ...... Never knew that about milkshakes! I eat turkey sandwhiches also whenever I'm really craving them.... I just go get fresh organic meat from the deli.....hoping that's a bit better than the rest? Lol. Everything is ok in moderation .... That's my motto ..... But te raw hamburger meat threw me over on that situation :/ lol prego worries!!!

 

[petitpas]

Doesn't the rule in the US only apply to deli meats? Rather than prepackaged?
Here in the UK we can eat lunch meats, just salami and cured meats are not advised. You can have cured meat if you freeze it at home for a few days, though.
Good milkshakes are made with proper ice cream so you can get around that 'rule', too

 

[LoveMy2Boys2]

Oh geez I have no idea..... I thought lunchmeat is lunchmeat? :-0

 

[londonangel]

I ended up eating rare beef today too. Went for a carvery and really, that is the first time ever that I have been given rare meat at a carvery. It was either eat it or starve (plus it was stupidly expensive, which is even worse).

 

[Rhio92]

Try not to worry too much. I keep accidentally eating soft eggs, sure lots of people don't stick to the rules all the time x

 

[petitpas]

You can find all the information online about why certain foods are ill advised or how you can make them safer. I believe beef can be eaten rare as long as the outside is cooked.
Equally, in the UK eggs with a lion on (which most of them have) come from hens vaccinated against salmonella so you can eat them with a runny yolk. I really enjoyed my dippy eggs this morning
https://www.egginfo.co.uk/eggs-and-pregnancy
There are even safe ways to eat sushi. Just read up about it if you are worried about it/interested in eating something specific.
I had a real craving for Parma ham a while ago so finding out I could eat it at home after freezing for a few days made me very very happy!

 

[Amythyst]

Oh Lordy, I'm not supposed to eat runny eggs either? Lord help my little boy.

 

[amyleigh89]

I ate Parma ham all the way through with DD1 as I had cravings for Parma ham, melon and balsamic vinegar. Yummy. PP - so you just have to freeze and then defrost?

OP - I wouldn't worry. I have eaten a medium cooked steak and enjoyed every bite. If I were you I would have probs eaten the other half too. If you have eaten there lots and never been poorly the chances are even slimmer than the already minuscule chances of getting something nasty xx

 

[petitpas]

I just took a look on the nhs website
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/foods-to-avoid-pregnant.aspx
and they do indeed state that freezing for four days should minimise the risk of parasites in hams such as Parma ham.

However, the nhs seems to disagree about soft eggs and advises against eating them (don't you love conflicting advice!?) and they have also withdrawn their suggestion to just make sure your steak is cooked on the outside. That isn't to say that it isn't safe, they have just decided to investigate.

I love it that Stilton has been ok'd to eat! Yum yum. Now if only they said the same about Brie!

 

[Ashersmomma]

OP, I agree with the rest. I'm sure you'll be just fine. Listeria and toxo are actually pretty rare.

As far as US suggestions on food, I've never heard of the milkshake thing either! I ate soft serve ice cream all the time. (I LOVE Braum's Twist cones!!) Haven't with this one, as we've moved and there isn't an ice cream shop nearby.
With lunch meat, they recommend heating all of it until steaming, but really emphasize the fresh deli cuts over the packaged.