Ate medium-rare steak. Did I just ruin the baby?
So I went to the Outback Steakhouse tonight and ordered a medium Victoria's Filet steak. It arrived medium-rare (quite red throughout), but I ate it anyway, even though I second-guessed myself.
Then of course, because I'm a fool, I had to come home and consult Dr. Google. Almost everything I read was "OMG DO NOT EAT MEDIUM STEAK!" and "steak must be fully cooked through." There were a couple "Oh I ate medium-rare steak and I'm OK" and one instance where someone's doctor said, "Just don't eat it raw and you're fine," but the overwhelming amount of information said medium and medium-rare were right out, to totally avoid those.
I'm 14 weeks along. What's done is done, but please someone make me feel better. What have your doctors said about steak? Did I just make a huge mistake? 
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Re: Ate medium-rare steak. Did I just ruin the baby?
Please do not stress out over this. We live in such a fear-mongering world, you know? No, you probably shouldn't eat medium rare steak every day, but one time will not cause harm.
If you are worried, though, I'd call your doctor just to ease your mind.
You're supposed to eat things cooked fully through because it kills any bacteria that may exist in the meat. A cut of steak is going to have less bacteria than a processed, ground meat but can still contain something- this is why they want you to eat everything cooked through. I wouldn't risk it with burgers, meatloaf, chicken, etc. I also wouldn't eat med-rare every day or for shady restaurants. You didn't ruin the baby, but if you had gotten sick you could put the baby, and yourself, at risk.
I work at Outback Steakhouse! If you remember there is an * by all meat we ask for a temperature on. At the bottom it says *Consuming raw or uncooked meat... and how ever they finish it. This is not just a warning for pregnant women. Anyone can be harmed by eating a MR steak. The reason they tell pregnant women not to eat it is because if they so happen to get whatever it is you can get from eating uncooked meat, the process to get rid of it (the meds they give you) will harm the baby. I'm sure you have eaten many a MR steak and never been sick. What are the chances the 9 months you are pregnant that you will get sick...slim to none!
This is the same reason we cannot have cold lunchmeat. Lunchmeat can contain Listeria. Listiria will not harm your baby, but the drug to get rid of it will. Have you ever had Listeria? Do you know anyone who has? I sure don't, so I'm not about to give up my Jimmy John's and my Subway beacuse they told me not to eat lunchmeat!
So take a deep breath and know your baby is just fine!
This! The big exception is Pork because it can have parasites inside the meat. Also make sure that poultry reaches the recommended temp. because they are more likely to contain harmful bacteria than beef.
The bumpie formerly known as First Time in MI
My husband is a cook, and this is what he always tells me cause I tend to be overly catious when it comes to any kind of meat/food.
With steak as long as it is brown on the outside or has been cooked on both sides for a min of 30s-1min (Pretty sure thats what he said.... ie: rare) Its fine.... All the icky stuff bacteria and such are on the outside, and by frying or cooking on each side till brown they die.
I wouldn't worry 
cheers
I'm sorry, this is just not true. Listeria IS the bacteria that can grow on lunch meat. BUT it can hurt your baby. When you have a healthy immune system and eat listeria, your body fights it and you may never know you were sick. But your immune system changes when you are pregnant, and listeria is one bacteria that can cross the placenta. All you have to do is cook food properly to kill the bacteria.
I'm sorry if anyone thinks I'm fear mongering, but this is one area I think has a lot of misinformation. I'm just trying to let people know the facts.
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the advice. I'm still worried, but trying not to be, so if anyone has anything else to share, please do!
A couple of things: I know that rare or medium-rare steak is fine for non-preggos--I understand that all you need to do is sear the outside, because generally contamination doesn't reach the inside (unlike ground beef, which must always be cooked throughout). I eat medium-rare steak without batting an eye, when I'm not pregnant. But I've read that toxoplasmosis can still be found inside steak (not just on the outside), which poses a big risk to preggos. I also worry about listeria and e.coli, although I'm not sure how big a risk those are in this particular case.
So it's mainly toxo that I'm worried about, which apparently, searing the steak does not get rid of.
Anyway, yeah, I'm obviously still worrying.
Last night I enjoyed a medium rare steak frite avec Bearnaise and hot damn, was it good. With a small glass of wine.
My Dr is of the more relaxed school of thought. He says to use common sense and you'll be allright.
Relax and don't buy into the fear mongering. Eat what you're comfortable eating and you and baby will be fine.
It's so nice to hear that there are other laid-back moms-to-be out there. I think it's easy to get swept up in the fear of eating anything that has ever caused anyone a problem, especially with the Internet helping these stories spread. Before I knew I was pregnant, I'd gotten tipsy one night and had one drink on another occasion. Since I found out, I have still had my cup of coffee every morning, and occasionally a tea or soda later in the day. I've had lunchmeat at least once, and sushi once. I have not been sick and have no reason to believe baby isn't absolutely fine. If you're freaking out, watch an episode of "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant"-- almost every story includes things that the woman did (drinking, smoking, etc.) because she didn't know she was pregnant, but the babies are always completely healthy.
Now, I'm not saying you should go out and eat a platter of sushi with a couple bottles of saki! I'm just saying, take a deep breath and relax!