There is a way for mothers do get around the Swiss health insurance. For me it worked like that: I was on maternity leave in Germany when we moved here. As we can have 3 years (no spelling mistake, yes it's 3 years!) for each child, I simply stayed employed in Germany and kept my health insurance which for the duration of my maternity leave is for free anyway.
So while I am not working here (and I can't see that happening for a while yet, don't get me started on working mothers in Switzerland ) I am enjoying my free German health insurance. The kids had to be insured via my husband, but through me are still insured (for free) in Germany as well.