Sheet-shaped object and method for producing sheet-shaped object

A sheet-like article for an absorbent article, the sheet-like article comprising

• a plurality of absorbent units, each absorbent unit including
• a long base portion having a lateral direction, a longitudinal direction that is longer than the lateral direction, and a thickness direction, and
• water-absorbent polymer particles that are fixed to a surface of a first side of the long base portion, wherein, before the water-absorbent polymer particles absorb a liquid, the water-absorbent polymer particles protrude beyond lateral side edge portions of the long base portion,
• the absorbent units being arranged such that the absorbent unit's longitudinal direction is oriented at least in one direction,
• wherein:
• when the water-absorbent polymer particles absorb a liquid, the water-absorbent polymer particles swell beyond the long base portion's lateral side edge portions that extend along the longitudinal direction, and a position, in the thickness direction, of each long base portion is varied from the position thereof before absorbing the liquid,
• a distance between the long base portion's both lateral side edge portions that extend along the longitudinal direction is greater than an average particle size of the water-absorbent polymer particles in a state before absorbing a liquid, and
• a distance between the long base portion's both lateral side edge portions that extend along the longitudinal direction is smaller than an average particle size of the water-absorbent polymer particles in a swollen state after absorbing a liquid.