The present invention relates to a method for producing polymers that are suitable for absorbing and storing aqueous fluids, and to polymers that can be obtained by this method. The invention further relates to the use of such polymers. The method comprises the following steps: i) cross-linking radical polymerisation in an aqueous liquid of a monomer composition (M) comprising a) at least one monomer A, comprising an ethylenic double bond and at least one neutralisable acid group or a group that can be hydrolysed into a neutralisable acid group, b) optionally one or more co-monomers B, different from the monomers A and having an ethylenic double bond, and c) 0.05 to 10 wt%, relative to the overall quantity of monomers A and B, of at least one cross-linker C, in the presence of at least one polysaccharide-containing substance (S), wherein the weight ratio of the monomer composition (M) to the substance (S) is in the range of 9:1 to 1:9； and ii) at least partial neutralisation of the acid groups and/or hydrolysis of the acid groups that can be hydrolysed into neutralisable acid groups in the polymer obtained in step i)； wherein the polymerisation and/or neutralisation is performed in the presence of urea.
