Abstract: A pouch for absorbing liquids. On one embodiment, the ouch is formed from two distinct layers of sheet material--one including thermoplastic fibers for the purpose of heat sealing and the other a tearable tissue paper capable of tearing upon expansion of the water-absorbent material contained between the sheet material layers. In another embodiment, the pouch is manufactured to include a relatively weak sealed seam, e.g., formed by heat sealing adjacent sheet material layers together, that has a weaker bonding strength than one or more other sealed seams, such that upon expansion of the water-absorbent material, the relatively weak seam separates or delaminates into its separate layers to allow the absorbent to spread beyond the pouch at the relative weak seam. In both embodiments, the pouches contain an inner layer of water-insoluble, liquid-absorbing material, such as cross-linked sodium polyacrylate.