[hoping4u]

We were matched with our birthmom about 13 weeks prior to her due date. Our son was born early so our actual wait was only about 10 weeks.
Other situations that we were presented with the time frame seemed to be within the last trimester of the pregnancy.

[viannqueen]

We had a long match- 5 months. It was really just a LONG time to be matched and was very hard. In the future I'd prefer the third trimester.

There is actually a couple that went through our agency who's birthmother started emailing them when she was four weeks along and chose them shortly after. She didn't need any expenses paid but still! She did place and they have a gorgous little boy. I think I'd have a heart attack to be matched for that long.

[redbonec]

The agency we were with when adopting our daughter did not match until at least 7 months along. We were matched a little earlier, as her birthmother could possibly have delivered earlier.

Our current agency also tries to wait until around that time as well.

[Momtosons]

Our daughter was 10 hrs old when we matched! It was an agency pick and that agency didn't have any couples(all wanted CC girls). So, the agency contacted her good friend that owned a referal service who I had happened to sign up with less than a week before! The referral agency chose another couple over us, but that couple couldn't get to the baby before discharge....so they picked us!! DD was 24 hrs when I held her in my arms!
I know that's more info than you wanted...but it's a crazy story!!

[Shadowfaerie]

For our first adoption we were matched for 1 week, for our second we were matched for 7 months- that match failed, and now we are matched again Dec 23rd, the due date is June 1st- so about 5 months.

[Amaurosis]

We matched about 6 weeks before our son's due date, but he ended up being a little bit bashful, so it was more like 7 weeks before he was born. It was about as long as I would have wanted to go, since that match time is stressful.

We didn't do any nursery prep before we matched, but it was more than enough time to get things ready.

[ChromaKelly]

We were matched for about two weeks, and that was long enough for me!
As for what to get before being matched, I would at least have some gender-neutral sleepers, a crib (or at least a Pack n Play, and other basics you will need no matter what.