The water-insoluble, water-swellable absorbent polymers useful in the present invention are commonly referred to as hydrogel-forming, hydrocolloids", or "superabsorbent polymers and can include polysaccharides such as carboxymethyl starch, carboxymethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose; nonionic types such as polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinyl ethers; cationic types such as polyvinyl pyrid