A patent has been issued for an absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a lateral cross-direction. The article is comprised of a liquid permeable topsheet layer, a substantially liquid impermeable backsheet layer and an absorbent retention portion sandwiched between the topsheet and backsheet layers. The retention portion includes a wet-formed mixture of fibers and superabsorbent material. The retention portion has an Edge-wise Compression value of not more than a maximum of about 9 g/gsm, and a Modified Circular Bend value of at least a minimum of about 0.3 g/gsm, and said retention portion having been mechanically softened.