Reviewing health related "costs" of female labor force participation, this paper examines four highly salient maternal and child health issues. Discussion of acute illness in day care settings begins with an overview of studies on day care and illness and focuses on hepatitis A, appropriate sanitation, and indications of research on respiratory conditions. Policy recommendations for implementation at state, community, and center levels are offered. Subsequent discussion describes ways a woman's entry into the labor force can affect her family's nutrition and recommends that nutritional supports should be available to women working at home or in the labor force. Discussion of health insurance for mothers focuses on national and South Atlantic regional data indicating type of health insurance coverage for and number of plans held by mothers of varying marital and employment status. Recommendations illustrate two different approaches to providing better health insurance for mothers. Further discussion, concerning occupational health and the female labor force, begins with an overview and specifies two major issues confronting North Carolina policymakers. Recommendations considered proactive and maximally protective are offered. Additional analysis and discussion focuses on the protection of the working woman against occupational assaults on her health, reproductive system, and fetus. To select a policy that effectively addresses this problem, the concluding discussion rates five policy options across nine criteria. Examples of hazardous conditions in 13 predominantly female jobs are provided. (RH)