Happiest day ever turns to tragedy when mother dies during elective C-section.

For first-time mum Amanda Sheppard Monday was meant to be the day all her dreams came true.

Booked in for an elective caesarean at Rockhampton Base Hospital the vivacious young woman from Gracemere in Central Queensland was excited to meet her “little person.”

But tragically while undergoing the c-section with her husband, Glynn by her side the previously healthy young woman died from complications in the routine procedure.

The couple were excited to meet their "little person." Via Facebook.

Luckily their baby daughter, named Willa survived and the now nearly three-day-old is being cared for by hospital staff and her father.

The couple had been counting down the days until the birth of their baby, posting images on social media of Ms Sheppard's growing baby bump and writing how they were now "now just waiting" for their "almost bubba."

Ms Sheppard told friends that she was  "absolutely exhausted" in the run up to the April 30 due date "but feeling pretty good otherwise."

The caesarean at Rockhampton Base Hospital on Monday was said to be routine, but tragically her life ended during the operation.

Her death was believed to have been caused by a suspected embolism according to The Courier Mail.

The devastated father now faces the prospect of bringing up his baby daughter without her mother.

“This day was supposed to be one of the best & happiest days of their lives & instead Amanda is leaving her beloved husband Glynn & brand new baby girl behind,’’ a Go Fund Me page reads.

"She has now left her beloved husband & brand new baby girl behind! " the page says.

"Times right now are hard for Husband & their families & My heart is aching for them through this hard time."

Monday was meant to be the day all Amanda Sheppard's dreams came true. Via Facebook.

The matter has been referred to the coroner and is under investigation by the hospital.

The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin reports that Mrs Sheppard's death comes after a review into practices in the hospital's maternity ward, following four birthing incidents in 12 months.

A review of the hospital's maternity unit was ordered two months ago following a baby's death and injuries to three other infants.

Earlier this year midwives passed a vote of no confidence in Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service senior management over their handling of long-term staffing and training issues. Queensland Nurses’ Union regional organiser Grant Burton sought to reassure families planning on using the unit saying the woman had died from complications during surgery, which were not connected with staffing levels in the hospital’s maternity unit.

“It’s one of the tragic events that can be associated with childbirth,” Mr Burton said.

Health Minister Cameron Dick told The Courier Mail he had asked the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service for more information.

“Specifically if there is any connection between this death and the other incidents at Rockhampton hospital that are being investigated,” a spokesman told the newspaper.

Willa is now three days old. Image via GoFundMe.

The tragedy of Ms Sheppard's death should in no way create fear for expectant mothers. While Australia has one of the highest rates of caesarean births in the world with 32 per cent of all births delivered through a caesarean section Australia is also one of the safest countries in the world in which to give birth or to be born, with substantial decreases in maternal mortality rates over the past century. The rate stabilised in the 1980s to approximately 10 deaths per 100,000 live births.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2006–2010 in Australia, there were 99 maternal deaths that occurred within 42 days of the end of pregnancy.

Our thoughts are with Glynn Sheppard and his daughter Willa. Via Facebook.

The family of Amanda Sheppard await the coroner's investigation to find out what caused the death of this young mother.

Our thoughts are with Glynn Sheppard, his and Amanda's family and their daughter Willa.

The GoFundme page can be accessed here.