A process is provided for preparing a polymeric material through a water-mediated polymerization process that includes combining an alcohol monomer and an aqueous solution in a vessel, adding an acid monomer to the vessel, removing water from the vessel and producing the polymeric material from the vessel, wherein the polymeric material comprises a polyester of the alcohol monomer and the acid monomer. The methods described herein are particularly suitable for polymerization of poly(glycerol sebacate).